winter walks

Lots of pictures being taken, lots of blogging to be done.

Here's some more:

my neice

Amazing.


FYI

Christmas!!

Although it doesn't feel much like Christmas with only half of our family at the house, it has been a very nice day. With only 30 minutes left before the 26th, the four of us (my parents, Jon, and myself) have done quite a bit while relaxing today.

First, we went to Salt Creek (my dad's favorite) to take a walk with our dogs, Hunter and Saddie.


A cute moment I caught of my parents when they didn't know I was looking.




It's hard to get a family photo when you are taking the picture. This is my solution.


Later, I decorated the little Christmas tree I bought myself. After making some little tags, I made my first ever oragami crane!! I am very proud, except that I can't do it again somehow.



After an amazing dinner, we played scrabble.



My mom was a little distracted by a project she was finishing, and I was by my camera. .oh well.







I hope your day was nice. May the Lord bless you this season.



And do not get stuck inside of an ornament.

Peet's: You want to be there

Christmas Eve I met up with my brother Jon and his friend (my friend, too) Kyle. As always, they were enjoying some Peet's coffee while doing work. Jon and I got Pei Wei for lunch, and were very encouraged by our fortunes, which is the point of fortunes, right? Right.





Kyle doesn't realize his photographer talent:

Lemonade is from Lemons

Tonight I am sick. Last night I said I had allergies as a psychological tool for not being sick, but was proven wrong as I grew more weary through my day (though a great day with Sarah, eating homemade Puerto Rican food at her friend Nico's and visiting Katie in LA).
Although I came home with no energy to do anything but lay in bed, it turned out to be a great thing. Forced to lay still, but not ready for sleep, I was able to think.


Things I thought of:

I want to make a skirt with pockets.
I want to spend time with children (i.e. nanny again)
This year has been rough
Running is something I miss
Action is necessary
I am loved by many, even when I think not
Hawaii is nice
God's story is an adventure
I want Tic Tac Toe wallpaper in my living room someday
Life is difficult, beautiful, complicated
I want to know myself more



My mom made me peppermint hot cocoa and brought me graham crackers. Sometimes it's nice leaving my independence behind.

Flashback

I finally scanned these from Nashville. Enjoy!

Friends in Hats -or- End of the Semester Friends

I am partial to the first, only because we are friends at times other than the end of the semester, but still, it is what it is.

END OF THE SEMESTER!




Sarah has been staying with me the last couple days. Quite the delight to the ending of my semester. It has been tumultuous (thanks FreeRice.com for learning words), but it has come to an end. We're going to celebrate by going to Disneyland. HOORAY! Or as Sarah would say, "BOOYAH!"


Happy end of the Semester.

As Sufjan might sing,

"Since the year is almost out, lift your hands and give a shout!"

Merry Christmas to be.

just a thought

Finals Week. Strange things happen. Drawing for too many hours, writing too many pages, listening to Simon and Garfunkel with my roommate, taking pictures of water fountains. Here's the thing about the water fountain, though. I just went to drink some and thought, "How nice that there is a water fountain in my dorm so I don't have to pay $5 to get a bottle from the vending machine." Quickly after that though, and a sip of water, however, I realized I may not be THAT excited about the water fountain. It's actually kind of weird, and I know water is water, but the water is kind of unappealing.

Does anyone else agree?

photo final

these are last minute, pretty unawesome pictures of my photo final. i might take the time to really photograph it this weekend, but thought i'd put up what i have.





it was a great time for me to be making art, with all that has been happening. although the primary purpose of art is not always therapeutic , it was for me, and i'm glad for it.

. . . .

Rain creates distance between my mind and the world. It leads me to 2 a.m. walks alone through campus to savor it's uncommon presence. I am always better able to concentrate when it's raining, enjoying each moment with some kind of unique adoration. Perhaps I will live where it rains regularly some day. That might be lovely. I would like to live somewhere where it snows, too, or at least I think so.

California is funny. There was an article in a magazine I read today about Los Angeles and it's role in the apocalypse. Are the evils and disasters of the city created by man, or some kind of punishment from God? Let me ponder that for a moment. . . still, not so sure.

I also met a man tonight named Juan Jose. He was going through trash to collect cans for money. When I asked if I could help in any way he explained that the money wasn't for him, it was for a little boy and little girl he had recently met who needed help. This made me consider how I do ministry. Digging through the trash for other people? That is service. The check I used to write out every month, then decided they could take out for me to help feed a boy? Good, yes, but perhaps there is something missing. What if I let somebody on the street rest in my room while I slept in the rain? What if I was really willing to give of myself, not just boldly proclaim my unbacked passion. Maybe I would be more like Christ. Maybe I would be truly working in the Kingdom.



Rain Thoughts.

The Welch Computer Lab

Looking at lines and shape.

ARTS 100

This is the class I am in right now. The general education class that I thought I had forgotten about, when really I didn't need it, and found out 3/4 of the way through the semester. Fortunately there are outlets under the lecture hall chairs in thew new business building so I can hang out on my computer while my teacher sits in the front row listening to presentations. I actually like this class a lot, being that I like art a lot, but watching people read off of papers in front of them is not super fun.

Another not super fun thing:

My trip to Thailand has been canceled. I've decided not to blog about it, but ask me about it, and I will share with you the situation. It's been a hard week, and it is disappointing, but God is good. God is good. God is good.

I'll be working on my photo final tonight, which should be good, especially as a response to this week. Making art is definitely healing. I will put some pictures up soon.

In the mean time please listen to Sufjan Stevens. My group played it during our art presentation, and I think it pretty much made it. . .plus the great work of Katharina Fritsch.